I just wanted to ask what's you're personal process for designing characters?
Well i dunno how much help i can be but i'll try.
So the simple version is I always start off with "i want my own version of this character but i don't want it to be a 1:1 ripoff but still recognizable" And that is a challenge from the get go.
Then i go "okay what wacky ingredient can i use to give it a twist?" I also ask myself "for these kind of characters what kinds of design choices do i typically like and which am i tired of and want to avoid?" I'll also be indulgent and be like "okay i'm mexican american we can make some these characters here like that too!" The biggest thing that will help you is a very concrete sentence description. You get that down and it'll help you vastly. Some examples below.
Lost Astronaut is pretty much Fear Agent crossed with Sam Rockwell's character from Moon.
Grimjack is X-9 but as a human turned cyborg
Spr4x is Samurai Jack if he was also one of the basket robots with a little bit of a jedi.
After that i tend to create supporting casts/backgrounds and there it's a matter of "how much do they clash or fit in with the setting/etc" as that level of contrast really helps figure out how to make a character standout. I find if put the character next to others it'll give me an idea for visuals. Like an angular looking character next to a softer design, short vs tall, thin vs uhm....more well rounded, posture. Age, ethnicity, gender, orientation etc are all things you can play around with. Just don't feel pressured that characters HAVE to adhere to a checkbox list. Do what you want.
I also try to communicate bits of personality visually. Like can you tell they're just a worn out guy? Are they intimidating but mysterious? Is she peppy and bright eyed? I personally LOVE doing a page of expressions, the characters err.....character tends to come out the most in that time.
And after that you do a lot of refinement. Sometimes you get it on the first couple of tries and other times it takes many many attempts. Don't forget to be on the lookout for inspirations as they'll help guide you on your design quest.
So that's a lot of rambling, i dunno if any of it is helpful but maybe. Good luck on your future design quests.
Extra Credit: Sometimes the best design choices come from your artist friends doing art of your OC's and you end up liking their take so much you incorporate parts of their version into yours. I've been on both sides of that and it's helped.
